Crypto exchanges to avoid if you are Iranian in 2026

If you're an Iranian crypto user in 2026, choosing the wrong exchange could mean losing your money overnight - not because of market crashes, but because of sanctions, hacks, or government seizures. It’s not about which exchange is the most popular. It’s about which ones are actively targeting or freezing Iranian accounts. Some platforms you might trust are quietly working with U.S. regulators to lock up your funds. Others are linked to Iran’s own security forces. And a few are just scams waiting to happen.

Exchanges that freeze Iranian wallets - especially those using USDT

Tether (USDT) is the most widely used stablecoin in Iran. It’s stable, easy to trade, and accepted almost everywhere. But here’s the catch: Tether has become one of the biggest threats to Iranian crypto users. On July 2, 2025, Tether froze 42 Iranian-linked wallet addresses in one single move. That wasn’t a random error. It was a targeted enforcement action tied to U.S. sanctions. More than half of those frozen wallets were connected to Nobitex, Iran’s biggest exchange with over 11 million users. The wallets didn’t just sit there - they flowed money to addresses previously flagged by Israeli counter-terrorism agencies as linked to the IRGC. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a red flag. If you’re holding USDT on any exchange that uses Tether’s infrastructure, you’re at risk. Even if you didn’t do anything illegal, your funds can vanish because of who else used the same wallet address before you.

Nobitex: Iran’s biggest exchange - and its biggest risk

Nobitex is the go-to platform for most Iranians. But it’s also the most dangerous. In June 2025, it got hacked for over $90 million. That’s not a small loss - it’s catastrophic. And it wasn’t just bad security. Elliptic, a blockchain analytics firm, traced Nobitex’s activity to a network of wallets used for sanctions evasion. The exchange didn’t just serve regular users. It became part of Iran’s underground financial system - one that international regulators are actively shutting down.

If you trade on Nobitex, you’re not just risking a hack. You’re risking being labeled as part of a sanctioned network. That means your account could be frozen by any international exchange you later try to use. Your wallet history follows you. And once you’re flagged, you can’t erase it.

International giants like Coinbase, Binance, Kraken - they block you too

You might think that using a big name like Binance or Kraken keeps you safe. It doesn’t. These platforms have to follow U.S. and UN sanctions. If your IP address shows you’re in Iran, or your bank details link to an Iranian account, or even if you used a VPN that’s been flagged - your account can be frozen without warning. No appeal. No explanation. Just locked.

There’s no way around it. If you’re Iranian, you’re on a watchlist. These exchanges don’t ask you if you’re a terrorist or a criminal. They just block everyone from Iran. It’s blanket enforcement. And it’s getting stricter. After the July 2025 Tether freeze, many of these platforms upgraded their screening tools. Now, even small transfers from Iranian-linked wallets trigger automatic reviews. Your money doesn’t disappear immediately - but it stops moving. And if you need it urgently, you’re out of luck.

Stablecoin limits - ,000 per year, ,000 max hold

In September 2025, Iran’s Central Bank slapped hard limits on stablecoins. You can buy no more than $5,000 worth of USDT, DAI, or any other stablecoin per year. And you can’t hold more than $10,000 total. If you have $15,000 in USDT? You have one month to reduce it. No grace period. No exceptions.

This rule targets exchanges that let users pile up stablecoins. It doesn’t matter if you bought it legally. If you’re over the limit, you’re breaking the law. And Iranian authorities are now requiring licensed exchanges to report every stablecoin transaction to the tax and banking watchdogs. That means your entire trading history is now visible to the government. If you’re using an exchange that doesn’t enforce these limits, you’re not just breaking Iranian law - you’re putting yourself at risk of fines, asset seizures, or worse.

Exchanges promoted by IRGC-linked media

Tasnim News Agency, which is directly tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been pushing certain crypto platforms to Iranian users. They claim these platforms are “safe,” “government-approved,” or “resistant to sanctions.” Don’t believe it.

When an Iranian state-affiliated media outlet promotes a crypto exchange, it’s usually because that exchange is being used to move money out of the country under the radar. That makes it a target for U.S. sanctions. If you use one of these platforms, you’re not just trading crypto - you’re becoming part of a sanctioned financial network. And once you’re linked to the IRGC, even indirectly, your assets become fair game for international freezes.

Unregulated and informal exchanges - the wild west

As Iran cracks down on licensed exchanges, more users are turning to Telegram groups, peer-to-peer traders, and unlicensed platforms. These aren’t exchanges in the traditional sense. They’re just people with wallets and WhatsApp numbers. There’s no customer support. No insurance. No legal recourse.

The Iran FinTech Association warned in late 2025 that these informal platforms are becoming hotspots for exit scams. One day, the platform works. The next, it’s gone. Thousands of users lost money this way in 2025. And because there’s no license, no regulator, and no law to protect you, there’s nothing you can do.

If you’re trading on an unlicensed platform, you’re not avoiding sanctions - you’re trading your security for convenience.

What about mining-related exchanges?

Iran produces 4.5% of the world’s Bitcoin mining. That’s a huge chunk. But the government doesn’t like it. The electrical grid is strained. Power cuts are common. In 2025, the government started limiting energy use for mining operations. That means exchanges or platforms that facilitate mining pool payouts or offer mining-as-a-service are now under direct scrutiny.

If you’re using an exchange that ties your trading account to mining rewards, you’re more likely to get flagged. The government can track energy usage. They can link your wallet to a mining farm. And if your mining activity is deemed “excessive,” your account could be shut down - even if you didn’t break any rules.

What should you do instead?

There’s no perfect solution. But here’s what works for some users:

• Use non-stablecoin assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum when possible - they’re harder to freeze than USDT.
• Keep your holdings under $5,000 in stablecoins to stay within Iranian limits.
• Avoid any exchange that requires Iranian ID, bank details, or phone numbers - even if it’s local.
• Use hardware wallets to store funds offline. Never leave large amounts on any exchange.
• Track your wallet history. If you ever used a wallet linked to Nobitex or Tether, consider moving funds to a new address.

The bottom line

Crypto isn’t a loophole for Iranians. It’s a minefield. The rules change every few months. One day, an exchange is safe. The next, it’s frozen. One week, stablecoins are fine. The next, you’re breaking the law for holding too much.

The exchanges to avoid aren’t just the ones that block you. They’re the ones that make you think you’re safe - until it’s too late. Nobitex, Tether-linked platforms, IRGC-promoted services, unregulated P2P networks, and any exchange that requires your real identity - these are the ones you need to walk away from.

Your money is your own. But in Iran, your digital wallet is no longer private. And if you’re not careful, the next freeze won’t be an accident. It’ll be intentional.